Ground Breaking

LOS ANGELES

Thomas Ennis, founder of NS Wash Systems, and Patricia Knott, who together own Green Forest Car Wash, have opened up a Dinosaur Car Wash here as well, according to a Los Angeles Sentinel report.

"Here in the Entertainment Capital of the world, we're making going to the carwash fun for car crazy Angelenos," Ennis stated in the story.

Ennis, who has more than 50 years of experience in the carwashing industry and has invented and sold washing equipment at NS, partnered with Knott, who is a local real estate developer. Together, they opened Green Forest Car Wash in Hawthorne, Calif., five years ago.

The new pre-historically-themed wash features animatronic dinosaurs. And, all of the washes owned by Ennis and Knott are environmentally friendly.

GIG HARBOR, Wash.

Donna and Scott Nemmers were so impressed with the way that the Optima Steamer, a South Korean product, worked, that they decided to open Vapor Car Wash, a mobile wash and detailing service, according to gateline.com.

The steam cleaning system, noted the article, uses less water than traditional carwashes, and eliminates chemical cleaners as well. A wash takes up between 1 and 5 gallons of water per cleaning. “It’s a very remarkable machine and we’re very pleased to bring it to Gig Harbor,” Donna Nemmers stated in the story.

The wash, which is run out of a van, tends to draw a big crowd when it pulls up, noted the article. That is because of the steam that billows out of the vehicle’s interior as the Nemmers work with the steam guns, the article continued.

The pair likes to compare their service to a spa treatment for a car, according to the article. It's all about convenience, said Scott Nemmers regarding Vapor Clean, “and helping our planet to boot.”

KILLEEN, Texas

Car Wash Barn’s plan to open two new locations in 2015 has come together, according to the Killeen Daily Herald.

Car Wash Barn owner Curtis Emmons said in the story, “We should be breaking ground on Fort Hood before the end of the year.” The new locations are expected to be open by March.

The Austin location, noted the article, is a way for Car Wash Barn to create brand awareness in a new market.

The first Wash Barn opened in 2008, and Emmons said in the article that he plans to open a total of 10 locations.

WOODINVILLE, Wash.

Cleaning Planet Auto Detailing and Car Wash held its “Open Garage” event on Saturday, June 21, with a training session titled “Professional Exterior Prep, Wash and Finishing,” according to a press release.

The grand opening celebration was “free to anyone who loves his or her vehicles, including hobbyists, car enthusiasts, collectors, automotive DIYers," or those committed to car care,” noted the release.

Clean Planet Owner Craig MacKay, who is an official Air Force One detailer, stated in the story, “Some people wonder why we want to show car owners how to do what we do. The truth is, the more involved the customer is in the upkeep of their vehicles, the easier it is for us to explain why we recommend the processes, the products, and the preventative measures we do,” said MacKay.

At the event, Clean Planet introduced a line of retail cleaning products, and sold them at 50 percent off. All attendees, noted the release, also received a free Paint Assessment, and those who bring a friend, also receive $50 off of a Drive-Pur Odor Removal & Bacteria Treatment, the release continues.

SACRAMENTO, Calif.

A new Sacramento Quick Quack Car Wash is the eighth one in the area, with Quick Quack having 17 locations overall, according to a press release.

Quick Quack celebrated the opening of its new exterior only, express carwash by giving away free washes from May 20 to May 29.

“We are so excited by the response we have already received by the West Sacramento community as this location will allow us to serve yet another part of the region where our customers live, work, shop and play,” said Jason Johnson, president of Quick Quack Car Wash. “In addition, we are eager to spread our message of water conservation and earth-friendly business practices.”

The idea for Quick Quack, the release noted, came from a desire to create a clean car quickly. Washes start as low as $6.99, and unlimited passes begin at $14.99. The wash was voted the second fastest growing company in Sacramento, and one of the top 50 carwash companies in the nation, continued the release.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.

With the acquisition of six Octopus Car Wash locations in Albuquerque, N.M., Mister Car Wash now operates 134 carwashes, according to a press release.

Mister announced the deal on May 15. It is the largest carwash chain in the U.S., and along with operating 134 carwashes, it also has 32 lube shops. The locations range across 14 states.

The CEO of Octopus Joel Jurkens said about the acquisitions, “Coming to the decision to sell was not an easy one. However, we are confident that Mister Car Wash will respect the legacy my father and family has built among our long-standing employees and within the industry.”

Casey Lindasy, the director of mergers & acquisitions for Mister, said: “The Jurkens family is legends in the industry. We are thrilled that they elected to entrust us with their business.”

One big story out of the acquisition was the sale of the wash featured on “Breaking Bad,” according to the Associated Press.

The wash was named A1A in the hit TV show, which centered on a former high school teacher, Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston, turned methamphetamine kingpin, states the article.

Jurkens said the signs would switch over in a few months, noted the article.

WALDORF, Md.

A 60th DASH IN location opened here on June 14, offering customers a 3,200-square-foot convenience store and Splash In Eco Car Wash, a press release reported.

The June 22 press release quoted Lock Wills, chair and CEO, who stated, “The fast growing Fairway Village neighborhood is the perfect location to launch our newly designed DASH IN. We are delighted at the opportunity to serve local families and community members with our premier line-up of fresh foods, quality carwashes and competitive fuel prices.”

This Waldorf location features a self-serve grill bar, a made-to-order sandwich and sub counter and healthy snacks and drinks.

The carwash offers a 5-minute cleaning and the facility is open 24/7, according to the press release. There are 59 other DASH locations throughout Maryland, Delaware and Virginia.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.

Boomerang Carwash is celebrating the opening of its 30th location by partnering with the Arkansas Children’s Hospital, and expects to raise over $4,000, according to a press release.

Between June 18 and July 12, to celebrate the opening of their third Little Rock Ark. location, Boomerang will be providing several free carwash days, according to the release.

Boomerang Carwash Vice President of Marketing Ed Colvard stated in the press release, “We provide our top wash package free to the public so if they feel compelled they can then donate to the charity in addition to our direct donations. ... since we began our grand opening campaigns in 2005, we have contributed over $500,000 to local charities [through] direct donations and fundraisers.”

Boomerang is designed to provide a quick experience, noted the release, taking about 3 minutes to complete the tunnel wash. All of the 30 locations have free self-serve vacuums. The express wash chain believes it’s the best model for both quality and efficiency. “We provide the value with free vacuums, consistency, quality, speed and price so you come back like a boomerang,” Colvard stated in the press release.

POQUOSON, Va.

Cool Wave Car Wash began in 2004, and has now expanded to four locations in the area, according to Tide Water Biz.

"This new location allows us to even better serve our customers, and we hope they will enjoy the new features at Cool Wave," said the Cool Wave Car Wash owner Bobby Willis, in the article.

Cool Wave features a soft-touch tunnel, a 180 mph air dryer and a free centralized vacuum center. The new location will be open seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

An “Unlimited Wash Program” is available to customers for $34.94 a month.

HOLLAND, Mich.

Quality Car Wash is opening a new location, and it’s set to be the biggest one yet, according to the Holland Sentinel.

The wash is scheduled to be complete in September, and it will feature a convenience store and a Tim Horton’s Café and Bake Shop with a drive-thru window, the article notes.

“This new location will be a showplace for the newest technology in carwash design, construction and operation,” said Ryan Essenburg, the director of operations for Tommy Car Wash Systems.